TONIGHT Mostly Cloudy. Low of 33. Search for The Westfield News “If we were to wake up The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews some morning and find that Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns everyone“TIME IS THEwas ONLY the same race, WEATHER creed,CRITIC and WITHOUT color, we would TONIGHT findAMBITION some .”other causes for prejudice by noon.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN SearchSTEINBECK for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews — GeORGE AIKEN Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VOL.88TONIGHT NO. 84 THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Fort Meadow Trike-a-Thon VOL. 86 NO. 151 75 cents raises more than $3,500 for TUESDAY,ROAR JUNE 27, volunteers 2017 read at St. Jude Children’s Hospital By AMY PORTER Westfield elementary Schools Correspondent By AMY PORTER WESTFIELD – As a part of Correspondent the Week of the Young Child, WESTFIELD – On Wednesday, 45 volunteers Fort Meadow Early Childhood visited the six elementary schools and Fort Center was bustling with activity. Meadow Early Childhood Center to Reach Out On Wednesday, they held their and Read (ROAR) to the youngest students in the ninth annual Trike-a-Thon for St. district. Organized by VIPS (Volunteers in Public Jude Children’s Hospital, to raise Schools) coordinator Tiny Macy, the readers money for toys for the sick chil- brought new books donated by Shurtleff dren. Children’s Services and read them to children in Fort Meadow Principal Joanne preschool to grade 2, before presenting the books Hentnick said that last year, to the schools for their libraries. Tricia Roy, the district’s physical Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, Superintendent Stefan therapy assistant who ran the Czaporowski, Chamber of Commerce Exec. event, added a “car wash” to Director Kate Phelon, and many city and district make it more fun for the children Preschoolers line up for the Fort employees and VIPS volunteers spread out who came in shifts from their Meadow Trike-a-Thon for St. Jude. throughout the district to the delight of the listen- classes. As the children arrived at (Photo by Amy Porter) ers. the gymnasium, they got on tri- In Fort Meadow, VIPS volunteer Sarah cycles and rode around in order, going through the two “car washes” Timmerman read “Pig the Winner Pug” by Aaron with strips of cloth and bubbles coming out of a bubble machines. Volunteer Theresa Allie read “There’s a Dragon in After the riding portion was over, the children sat in a circle around your Book” to the delight of preschooler Antonio See ROAR, Page 8 Sanchez and his class. (Photo by Amy Porter) See Trike-a-Thon, Page 8 Dollars for Scholars Municipal Light fundraising event to Board Discusses benefit Southwick students By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent 2018 reports, SOUTHWICK –Southwick Regional School‘s Dollars for Scholars is partnering with Tucker’s Restaurant on April 23rd for a fundraiser to benefit the scholarship program. People in attendance are seen looking on as Maryanne Margiotta Ward 3 seat By PETER CURRIER Tucker’s Restaurant will be giving 10% of their food sales speaks at the podium to start the event. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) Correspondent on Tuesday April 23rd from 11:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. back WESTFIELD- The Westfield Gas and Electric to Dollars for Scholars. Tucker’s is asking those people that Municipal Light Board met Wednesday evening are coming to support Dollars for Scholars to let them know Recognition ceremony at the WG&E headquarters to discuss various when they enter the restaurant. reports from 2018 and to lay out the plan to fill “We’d like to get as many people to come out as possible,” the commission’s vacant ward 3 seat. said Dollars for Scholars President Lisa Hough. highlights students’ One of the 2018 reports was that of the out- ages for WG&E customers during the year. It See Benefit, Page 3 success in DLE program was announced that the light plant had begun recording outage data under a new system. By GREG FITZPATRICK Previously, a single house was not recorded as an Correspondent outage, which will be the case going forward SOUTHWICK – The Diversified Learning Experience (DLE) under the new system. There were an estimated program at the Southwick Regional School continues to grow. 1,600 calls by natural gas customers over the The DLE was established in the 1990’s to provide seniors at the course of the year, a decrease from the previous Southwick Regional School an opportunity to take part in an year. The average response time to an emergency internship in a career field they may want to pursue at a college or call for gas customers was reported to be 17 university or beyond. A semester-long experience, the student not minutes. Members of Southwick Dollars for Scholars are seen at a The commission also gave a report on the cast meeting this past fall. (WNG File Photo) See Ceremony, Page 8 iron abandonment program for 2018. The report showed that 11,000 feet of gas lines were replaced in 2018, with a current projection of 12,000 feet for 2019. The roads listed for the abandonment program for 2019 are Orange Street, Kellogg Street, Lincoln Street, and Group offers ‘perspectives’ for history buffs Belmont Street. Western Avenue will also be included in conjunction with the city’s construc- By LORI SZEPELAK Hutton added that teaching was the “extremely immoral and harmful” includ- tion project on the lengthy road. Correspondent “most important job in a democracy ing wars and murders, and some “very Near the end of Wednesday’s meeting, the WESTFIELD-History has played an because without educated citizens there positive,” from selfless charitable work commission announced the procedure for the important role in Les Hutton’s life – since could be no democracy.” and nursing to peacemaking. coming vote to fill the Ward 3 seat left vacant fifth grade. “My conclusion, not my teacher’s,” he “My career choice narrowed to Russian after the passing of Jane Wensley in March. “I first chose teaching as a lifelong goal said. history as a result of the increasing ten- Candidates will be given until April 19th to when I heard my fifth grade teacher telling As Hutton’s early years past, he said his sions and threats of the Cold War in the announce their bid for the seat. Once all of the us about ‘citizenship’ in a democracy,” interest in history gradually grew after candidates are finalized, there will be a joint said Hutton. observing human activities, some See History Buffs, Page 8 See MLB, Page 3 Westfield State University announces parade involvement By PETER CURRIER encouraged people to sign up and take part in reflect the genuine influence of WSU on the of participants walking or riding in vehicles. Correspondent the parade despite the fact that it takes place community.” The parade is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. WESTFIELD- Westfield State University after most students have left campus for the Lamontagne added that, while the parade and is estimated to last about three hours. will be joining the Westfield 350th birthday summer. itself occurs after the semester has ended, she Participants will be gathering in Stanley Park celebrations by participating in the May 19th “Although the city itself has a rich history, is hopeful that they can assemble a group of and in front of the Horace Mann Center at parade with a contingent of walking students, it is not complete without Westfield State faculty, staff, and alumni to march for the uni- WSU and slowly walk towards downtown. faculty, and staff. University,” said Lamontagne, “We are deeply versity. Tricia Oliver, Director of Campus Those who wish to participate must sign up by In an email sent out to all students and staff, connected to Westfield and we have the Communication, said that the university will April 19th in order to receive a free t-shirt to Susan Lamontagne, Dean of Student affairs, opportunity to ensure that the celebrations not have its own float, but rather a contingent wear during the parade. PAGE 2 - THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Transitional Employment — A Partnership between Apex Homecare and The Forum House: Everybody Gains. “When Jeremy’s on the job, we know he’s happy, from the big smile he wears on his face,” said Cheryl Rumley, Founder and President of Apex Homecare, a family owned home care TONIGHT FRIDAY SATURDAY agency serving Western Massachusetts (MA). Jeremy first arrived at Apex with his support staff from the Forum House — Kevin, Lauren and Becca. The Forum House, a clubhouse of Viability, works in partnership with local employers to meet their business needs while offering employ- ment opportunities to people with disabilities in MA. “Historically, I’ve hired home care aides from the Forum Jeremy Robert, a mem- Chance of Showers. Cloudy. Becoming Partly Sunny. House and have always been pleased with the quality of their ber from the Forum work”, Rumley said, “so I was confident that Jeremy would also House transitional succeed.” In his role at Apex, Jeremy works in the document employment program is 53-56 73-76 management department, scanning payroll and other documents gainfully employed at into the new system recently installed at the home care agency. Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North wind around Apex Homecare, in 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.